Man Pleads Guilty To Murder In Fatal Hartford Stabbing

HARTFORD — When investigators spoke to Paul Hunter after the death of Alford Grayson last May, he told them he "guesses" he stabbed Grayson. He now faces 30 years in prison after entering a guilty plea.

Hunter, 37, of East Windsor, entered the plea under the Alford doctrine in Superior Court in Hartford Thursday. An Alford plea means Hunter doesn't agree with the state's evidence but acknowledgers there is enough for him to be convicted.

Grayson, 26, of Hartford, was found an evening last May suffering from stab wounds at Blue's Package Store on Barbour Street. He was rushed to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, but died about 10 p.m.

Hunter, later charged with the crime, was found hiding in the bushes at 226 Martin St. with a black knife, prosecutors said. Hunter claimed the stabbing happened during a fight, but video evidence shows otherwise, prosecutors added.

Hunter told investigators that he "must have" pulled the knife during the incident, but could not recall how many times or where he stabbed Grayson, according to a report.

Prosecutors said that Hunter told police "next time I'm going to finish the job."

Grayson's family was among those in the courtroom during the plea. Prosecutor Rick Rubino said: "They obviously want more time … but they are in agreement with the plea."